Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I need to replace my old tiller that cracked badly at the holes that mount it to the "tiller arm"? Was wondering if there was a better way to protect the tiller from splitting. The spare tiller that came with the boat seems to have met the same fate.
I had the same problem... Since the tiller is laminated...I cut out the rotted piece and epoxied a piece of oak between the layers, luckily the top and bottom were intact. Drilled new holes. Sanded the whole tiller, filled up other rotted holes. Epoxied the whole thing. OR You can buy a new one for $150-180. See this blog of some pictures of the refinished tiller. Scroll down: https://79catalina25.com/page/2/
The rudder is made from a fiberglass shell with a foam core. The core will saturate with water if the boat stays in the water. If you pull the boat and temps go into the teens or twenties then the foam will freeze and expand. This will burst the fiberglass shell. You often see the "seams" crack which pretty much messes up the rudder and its hydrodynamic profile. To prevent this from happening, when I haul Passage in November, I remove the rudder and take it home. I store it in my garage and let the water dry out of its own accord. My garage typically does not freeze until mid January by which time the core is bone dry. A few of my pals at the marina have inboard rudders. Some have experienced this problem but there's not a lot they can do about it. They repair their rudders in the spring. Prevention is truly the best medicine.
I need to replace my old tiller that cracked badly at the holes that mount it to the "tiller arm"? Was wondering if there was a better way to protect the tiller from splitting. The spare tiller that came with the boat seems to have met the same fate.
Thank you
John
Last season, when I refinished my tiller, I discovered why it had bolts installed vertically in this section. The tiller had cracked laterally (in line with the laminated pieces). The PO had drilled two holes in this section, and installed two #8 through-bolts with fender washers top and bottom. With the bolts tightened, the cracks are forced closed.
This has worked well for the eight years I've owned the boat. When I refinished the tiller, I tightened the bolts to close the cracks before applying the new varnish.
If your cracks are also lateral, perhaps the vertical bolts will work for you too.
Agree with others - Using a Sunbrella cover is the way to go. I have original tiller and I keep my boat in the water year-round. The tiller has the original varnish finish on it as the Sunbrella cover works very well. You can pick up a Sunbrella cover from West Marine or Catalina Direct and that will work out fine. You can also make your own - SailRite, believe they have a kit for making a tiller cover or just order the material and thread.
A friend lost his balance and sat on my tiller--that was its demise. Don't sit on your tiller.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
When I bought Peregine the rudder was in bad shape. I replaced from either Defender or Catalina Direct sorry don't remember. I did buy a sunbrella coverand it stays covered when not in use. It is currently in the cabin during the winter but many winters it has stayed in my apartment. It is the only thing I use spar varnish on and it gets very good care.
Derek Crawford Chief Measurer C25-250 2008 Previous owner of "This Side UP" 1981 C-25 TR/FK #2262 Used to have an '89 C22 #9483, "Downsized" San Antonio, Texas
Thanks Derek, The spiral wrap is pretty easy the "Turks Heads" took some time to figure out. I've also used a Soloman Bar for lanyards, bracelets and snap shackle pulls. I follow a Youtube site called "Tying it All Together" very clear videos on all kinds of decorative knots. https://www.youtube.com/user/TyingItAllTogether
When I bought "ABOUT TIME" The rudder and tiller were bolted together . I kept it that way as long as I had the boat , I would pull the rudder pin from the gudgeon and pull both en mass and put the assembly in the cabin every time I finished sailing for the day. It wasn't that hard to do even for a 70 + yr old sailer. Ruder never stayed in the water ,tiller was protected .
in outdoor marine environment, holes drilled in tillers should be over-drilled, wood epoxy the holes and let set. drill new smaller holes and insert bolt(s). this prevents weakening of laminate wood or pure wood and adds strength to area. "a ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
Lynn Buchanan 1988 C25 SR/WK #5777 Sailynn Nevada City, CA
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.